29.6.2026 Monday - new beginnings

During our office meeting, RS tells everyone that he is leaving us, and will start his Part 2 in September. He will leave in a couple of days' time to help mom with her shops (she is closing them down). I offer the office to him - for the library, for review sessions, to use the printer or simply to have lunch. I think it is important to end chapters like this with care and foresight - it is good to keep doors open. He might not return as an employee but the mentoring can continue.  

This evening is our first office pickleball session, everyone seem to have lots of fun. We will make this a regular thing - including the meal afterwards. 

28.6.2026 Sunday - a long walk followed by a swim

It is funny what one gets up to when there is nothing to do. I walk to PD (45minutes) for a swim (45minutes) after which Sean and I have a late breakfast. I am eating less starch after CW says that I have gained weight. 

27.6.2026 Saturday - re-connecting

 

Sam is in KL to spend mom's one-year death anniversary with dad; Sara and Val went with her for the (better and fun) company. Sam tells me that dad has been testy and easily triggered, the new maid is shy but diligent, and hum as she works. I think Sam does it for her own peace of mind, rather than for anyone else. 

While she is away, Sean and I spend more meal times together. I spend more time at work, I don't like to be at home when she is not around. As a distraction, I accepted a lunch offer with CW - good to catch up after 9 months of missing each other. 

I spend the rest of the time listening to music on our new tv.

26.6.2026 Friday - going back to school

 A few weeks ago, I asked him if he had thought about his plans to do his Master degree. Yesterday, he tells me his plans to continue his studies in September. I think it is a good decision for both parties; he needs a fresh page to start a new chapter and stepping away is a good move. 

Val, the happy child

Yesterday, I contacted a client and he tells me that his hold up was due to land matters, and that the project cost can be managed. So in principle, the project will proceed once the land matter is resolved. I am relieved because I had a vague notion that he had changed his mind, or worse still had engaged someone else to do it (someone cheaper, he was complaining about our fees). 

25.6.2026 Thursday - time to have lunch

Over our lunch with Mr. Lai who is leaving his current company (a property developer; our client) - we talk about the people who has worked on our recently completed project (a serviced apartment complex) and I jokingly say that there are a few whom I would not consider having lunch with. It is one thing to work with them; it is a transactional relationship - we do what we are paid to do, during which our time is paid for by the client. It is another thing to consider having lunch and spending personal time with them; that is a personal relationship - and I has rather not waste good time with people who are not sincere.

TY joins us for lunch, mid-way through it he sends me a photo of Mei-ling as he promised months ago - for me to include on our 'alumni' page on our website.

After lunch - O. Tan texts me about submitting an article for BAJ, I suggests a few extras to enhance the readability of his piece. He asks why we agreed to cross link platforms with PAM's national magazine Architecture Malaysia (AM) - I explain. But I sense he is hoping for a different answer; I tell him I linked with AM to achieve wider readership, and that AM invited BAJ, and that I regarded the invitation as a compliment to BAJ. I won't be having lunch with him any time soon.

In the evening, Sean and I go for dinner, during which he suggested that he wants to get mom a new tv. He buys two tvs, and I buy two sound bars for our respectively homes. 

24.6.2026 Wednesday - a light touch

 

23.6.2026 Tuesday - parenting Part 2

 When our parents get older, the roles are reversed - we become the parents; worrying about the well-being, nagging about taking meds, about taking care. It is harder for Sam as she is away from Dad in PJ. Today he fell down while trying out pickleball, she is contacted when the games organiser is unable to rouse sis-in-law. Luckily he is fine, a kind soul drove him to the medical centre, at which time they were able to rouse the other daughter who arrives in time to relay a nice message to the family chat group. I am troubled for the rest of the evening by the breezy and slightly flippant tone of the message. 

Luckily Sean buys us tickets to a Teochew movie, which was able to lift my spirits.

22.6.2026 Monday - parenting

It is interesting to see Sara and Rudy fuss and carry on about their puppies; Bear2 and Mon(roe). Mini-parenting in action; good to have responsibilities and for someone or something to depend on you. 

 

21.6.2026 Sunday - Father's Day

Today starts like a typical Sunday for a couple who has been married for more than three decades - we go market shopping (for fish and a pumpkin; for tonight's dinner). But instead of the usual breakfast at a kopitiam, Sam and I go for a hit of pickleball first. Until she got hungry, about an hour later. 

Today is Father's Day, there isn't a great deal of fuss - I don't encourage these types of celebrations. They are so fake. I appreciate that my children wish the best for me, and do their best for me when I ask for help. And that's enough. 

I rarely ask for help, what I'm able to manage without troubling them stays with me. I don't usually complain, there's no need cloud their day especially if the problem has gone away. Perhaps after a long time has passed, I might talk about it if I feel there is a lesson to be gained by recollecting a problem or situation or a person's behaviour. 

 

20.6.2026 Saturday - oral exam

 

19.6.2026 Friday - Precinct 1

 

18.6.2026 Thursday - managing one's own time

Some of our friends said yes, only to rescind when the time comes; citing work commitments and family duties - my first reaction is anger at their lack of accountability. On thinking further, I decide that perhaps they simply do not have control over their own time; they have bosses and spouses to take into account, and that I am the fortunate one, having Sam to collect me for a late morning swim and a nice lunch after that. 

17.6.2026 Wednesday -

 

16.6.2026 Tuesday - some projects are for training

These are some sketches from our conversation about a housing project, with Fiona and GW - I said I know how to detail the stairs so now I'm recording it on sketches before I forget. These are also useful for someone to take on to produce CAD drawings and model in 3D. We have many people on this small housing project, too many for the fees earned. However, I see it as a way to learn to work with other people; it trains your temperament and your management skills. It also hones your own skills while learning from others more experienced and finally, these projects are good for training our young team members. 
 

15.6.2026 Monday - so it seems that Wednesday is a public holiday

 I should relax and not worry about internal deadlines - once I have assigned the work let them decide when and how to deliver. 

14.6.2026 Sunday - Tris and Tiff

 

13.6.2026 Saturday - Astrid and Ariel

 

12.6.2026 Friday - Victor

newbie passes the test

 

11.6.2026 Thursday - good outcomes

 I wrap up Juney's bread that Sam made for her, in a nice cloth Japanese-style because Jowie is coming to get it. I ask for a lift to the office and she obliges, we have become close friends over a short time. Even Yoshi is becoming more animated and talkative during our dinner outings. 

This morning, I sit out the housing meeting, and leave PH and Freddie to cut costs with the consultants. Over lunch they tell me things are coming to a focus but more work is needed, Freddie volunteers to go to next week's meeting if it takes place.

In the afternoon, we have a good discussion on how to proceed with the hotel project - it seems easier than what I expected. There are no real ego problems, just keen to get the project moving, Leong is a good fit for this project, and he seems to like the design architect.

10.6.2026 Wednesday - air-well not courtyard

 Some of my worries about this project is cleared today, Sean draws up an nice pictogram for the findings, it will be very useful for tomorrow's meeting with the client and the design architect.

9.6.2026 Tuesday - setting a high bar

I start the morning thinking that we have things sorted out for one project, only to have the client change the brief again. I get upset for a few moments, then I decide to work out some options with JY who is unflinching as usual. I tell the guy - ok, I will have a try. He says - ok, thank you. As it turns out, we are able to tweak the layout a bit to give him what he wants - which we do not really know until he tells me - ok, please proceed with submission. Lesson: do the work first, complaining does not work (for either party), sometimes the results are better than before, and it trains us to be more resilient (my colleagues can learn by example).

13K steps after pickleball - 2 people say ok but does not show up; not acceptable - I need to speak to one of them who routinely comes in late. I am not upset for long, as we go for dinner with our young people - they are happy chatting away - they are at a good place. And so are we.

during dinner, Jowie mentions that the young man seems very caring. I agree - he 'rescued' a little fish, who was kept in a little jar on a grocery shop counter. brought it home to a large tank, Sara says that 'Blobbly has started nesting bubbles. Someone is happy. 

8.6.2026 Monday - anxiety

 

7.6.2026 Sunday

 

6.6.2026 Saturday

 

5.6.2026 Friday -

 

4.6.2026 Thursday - cooking with Sam

When we first moved into No.34, I did a fair bit of the cooking as Sam was busy with the young Sean and Sara. My dishes were simple, similar to the Asian dishes I cooked when we were in Uni. Sometimes mom would supplement our dinner with a chicken dish or a fried fish - passed to us when we collected the children after work.  

In the intervening years, especially after Sam stopped working, I only cooked on special occasions; on weekends or for birthdays. At those times, I would cook western meals; a pasta, a roast, a loaded salad - which I still do on the weekends, nowadays at No. 40. 

Tonight after our swim, I cook a simple tomato sauce pasta in our new kitchen. It is a quick meal; easy to prepare, full of nutrients and tasty - Sean wonders if anchovies were the special ingredient in this simple dish. It isn't. I used fish sauce to boost the umami, and added chick peas for extra protein. 

3.6.2026 Wednesday - drawing with Sean.

 

2.6.2026 Tuesday - today is Eng Hooi's birthday

 

1.6.2026 Monday - Day 3 of working holiday

Started the day early - I decide not to put off calling a client, I know it is a public holiday but I thought I would see if he would reply. He does, clarifies a few things. Instead of getting upset about it, (it was his fault) I decide to treat this as a way to improve the scheme's efficiency, for me to speak to PH closely about a project, and get a project out of it. 

After that mind clearing, I arrive at a few solutions which PH agrees to develop - things are looking positive already.

In the evening, Sam side-lines me and cooks the entire roast lamb dinner for EH's birthday - we eat in the new kitchen and chat about this and that. 

 

31.5.2026 Sunday - Juney leaves us a gift

 

We ask her to continue to visit and stay if this 'travel' arrangement suits her; coming in from the sticks with her two dogs to stay at No. 40. She sleeps downstairs on the timber bed, her dogs in the tea room barking occasionally at strangers walking by. She leaves the house spotless, and some snacks and drinks for 'our next party'. 

30.5.2026 Saturday - cleaning up

 We call off the pickleball and decide to have breakfast together instead and spend a long time, sharing food and stories about each other. After that, I start Day 1 of my holiday work - got some troubling feedback from a client, but am able to get help from PH. One of the benefits of having partners at work as well as at home. 

To take my mind off work, Sam and I go shopping for a new jet cleaner; we do not really need one (we are not that clean) but she says it would help her with the gardening, so we got an economical one which one can use for up to 30 minutes before the pump overheats. This is OK we tell the shop assistant (we are not so hardworking). 

These excursions remind me of the ones we go on during university days - armed with a simple itinerary which we over complicate with hours of aimless wandering about and debate about which sandwich shop to get lunch from. 

29.5.2026 Friday - frustration and relief in equal measures

SY comes for a chat, I think he wants to air some grievances and also to update me on the latest news from Taoyuan. I listen as he tells me about his plans for the July trip; we will visit the job site upon landing, followed by a trip south to Taichung on Day 2 and 3, after which we will return to Taoyuan for the launching of the landart exhibition, and then maybe spend one day roaming the outskirts of Taipei instead of attending the design forum. I will frame this into an itinerary and share w the others before telling Eric. 

He also tells me that their firm has won a prize for a school project, I am happy and envious in equal measures. I am  glad it is them, but wish our school project will more forwards.

. 

Today we have some long chats about work matters about getting any drawings done. I am determined to draw during this long holiday break, I will go the office daily.

28.5.2026 Thursday - because we can

 

..have drinks at 430pm followed by dinner at No. 40. It coincided with directors getting their half-year incentives, so it is timely as well as answering folks when they ask 'where are you having early drinks and dinner on a work day evening?' - because we can.

We have some non-office folks (and non-humans) at the dinner as well; Juney is staying at No. 40 as her holiday home with Bear2 and Gypsy (a Golden Retriever and Labrador Retriever). The 2 dogs are quite a hit with our guests, which included former colleagues; Louis, Bryan, Roosh, Peggy, Doreen - it is quite wonderful to see them interact and laugh out loud even though they have not been in touch for quite a while. 

Sean tells that there are 37 members in his lunch chat group; many have left the office, some have left Kuching. 

27.5.2026 Wednesday - a full day

.. and the morning is barely over. Jowie collects me from home to have a hit of tennis before pickleball. She hadn't played for a year and I am keen to re-introduce her to tennis. I am glad that my strokes are still there although J tells me that my string are flat.

As it often happens with new friends, the breakfast after the games is longer than the games themselves. Yoshi is more talkative now that he is been to our office. Adn Sara joins us, which is always a highlight. 

Fiona is working it seems, she sends me the minutes of meeting. I add my 2 cents, which ends up becoming the frame work of a letter. I'm happy with it - doing well in contractual correspondence is not about having good English, it's about having a clear chronology and a good understanding of the Contract. 

We finish the day at 11pm, after cooking food for Thursday's office do. 

26.5.2026 Tuesday - the arsehole in the room

 

25.5.2026 Monday -

 

24.5.2026 Sunday - Enghooi meets Jowie

 

23.5.2026 Saturday - space form and delight